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He who is in you is Greater Than he who is in the world |Quotes #4|

Updated: Oct 16, 2021


What a crazy crazy week this has been...! I've gotten rejected by a loved one yet not feel hurt. While the business by the grace of God is picking up... Life has always been unpredictable as always. And yet I am still in awe now than I've ever been with the Lord. O Lord, thank You for another day. I used to idolize my significant other, my money, my food, even my parents. And yet Lord thank You for breaking all my bondages. In my freedom I can 'do' what I want and know that I'm forgiven yet I don't want to. Your presence O' Lord is what I seek. I will wait patiently for You. Without it I am fearful. I need You Lord. Please don't ever be far away.... Looking back, I don't think I can run away from You, haha. Last night, I had a dream. Two dreams actually; it's all a blur right now. Yet I understand now. Are dreams concrete? Nope. Yet. If it goes in accord with Christ, I do believe it's a good way for it to inspire us. I digress. The first dream was about: Spiritual warfare. The second dream was about: We're marching to Zion (will be posted soon!).

Spiritual Warfare

It was scary. I just fondly remember being stuck. This unidentified turban person was beside me. I couldn't escape. I remember being fearful. Scared and trapped. I couldn't decipher why I was there I only knew this person had a large following. Fortunately, I awoke up after that. I quickly prayed and asked God to help me. My heart was beating rapidly. I knew this was the evil one who controls this world:

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 1 John 5:19 🌍👿

Not only that, his followers were everyone else. Mostly those in power. They are the presidents, the governments, all those seen and unseen:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 🏛️😈

I was reminded in that time— to be careful. To tread lightly. Despite knowing that God is with me, I also realized that the evil one is starting to counter... My life is at danger always. Especially so when the Lord reminds us, we need to seek Him even more. We live in a highly polarized Muslim country, surrounded. I am reminded off what Jesus says:

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16 🐑🐺🐍🕊️

To be wise and cunning as serpents. Or as the times go—to be street-smarts. Aware of the situation and flexible. In juxtapose to be innocent as a dove. Pure in spirit. Reformed in thinking. We need to go back to Christ and His Word for guidance in all. In a time where we are surrounded by wolves. Enemies lurking to attack and devour us. Hmm.. we should take caution.

Similarly, this week I learnt a very valuable lesson from Jeremiah 40 from the character Gedaliah who may have been innocent as a dove yet acted unwisely:

Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah at Mizpah, “Please let me go and strike down Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life, so that all the Judeans who are gathered about you would be scattered, and the remnant of Judah would perish?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “You shall not do this thing, for you are speaking falsely of Ishmael.” Jeremiah 40:15-16 🙅‍♂️⛔

As the story goes, Gedaliah was the governor appointed by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to rule over Judah. One day Johanan warned that Ishmael wanted to take his life.

But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said. As Johanan warned the words "but" and "said" appears in the situation. This was the start off Gedaliah's downfall. Gedaliah acted rashly. What he thought quickly; he decided to act swiftly as well.

Whereas,..

If only Gedaliah took time to consult with the Lord...

If only Gedaliah stopped and prayed...

If only Gedaliah acted humbly...

In Gedaliah's arrogance he denied calling Johanan's warning as false. And guess what? In the next chapter, Gedaliah was soon murdered:

Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men with him rose up and struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor in the land. Jeremiah 41:2 ⚔️

Sometimes in my life I tend to take things for granted.

I think to my self that if it looks safe, if it smells safe, if it sounds safe.. then it "must be safe".

Yet as Kidner would write that's not the point:


“From our vantage-point we can see that Gedaliah should have enquired of the Lord, whose Prophet Jeremiah was with him; yet this is easily said.”

IF only Gedaliah inquired off the Lord. Praying and seeking Him in all things, I am sure the Lord would have responded. Despite being saved or not, He will never forsake us. Yet Gedaliah's seemingly small mistake cost him his life.


The question today becomes— when have I last truly inquired off the Lord?

Have I really listened and taken heed to His warnings?

 

Reflection

Dear Lord, thank You. For reminding me to be careful. As Peter reminds us:

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9 ⚠️🦁

The devil is like a roaring lion. Waiting and lurking for the right moment to pounce. This is real spiritual warfare. That the evil one is waiting for our weakest moments to strike us. It maybe through greed, lust, pride, etc. Whatever it is, we are not immune to sin. It happens when we least expect it. The devil's goal is to shame our Heavenly Father's glorious name. Yet Lord. Thank You for reminding us to be watchful, alert and unintoxicated. To resist, firm in faith, knowing that our brotherhood is also going through the same sufferings... When all is said I also know that I may fail. Yet please remind me off Your grace daily. As I am weak and You are strong.... The evil one is powerful. Yet You are even more powerful. You are glorious O Lord:

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

1 John 4:4 🧒🌍✊


Thank You Jesus for overcoming all odds. For saving me over the evil one. Over sin. You are greater than everything. I sometimes I forget that. As we are Your children, You O Lord You have overcome all my greatest fears. Help me to be less like me and to be more like Jesus. Thank You for David who also was a good example off someone who sought Your help:

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men. Psalm 59:1-2 💣⛑️✝️

Lord, I will always have enemies that rise up against me, evil, blood thirsty men. Yet in that moment of weakness. In that helpless moments, O Lord I will hold fast to Your promises. Your covenantal love. That You will deliver, protect, and save. Just like You did then and that You will always do. O my Father in Heaven, I thank You. For saving me then and for all those infinity moments that You have saved me in things seen and unseen...! These blissful moments of grace...🤗


Thank You Jesus even for those sleepless nights. These bad dreams. That honestly feel like a heart attack. 😵😱. Because even in my weakest, even when I am attacked. Even living in a highly dense Muslim population, I am grateful that I have You always right there beside me. And Lord. To be able to seek You in all things is a blessing. I will seek You my Lord.. in my plea, please be with me. You are my fortitude. My strength. My one true Father. Thank You for answering me:

I sought the Lord, and he answered me

and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:4 😱😭🤗


In my cries of help... I always wonder—who am I?

I am but a lost lamb. Helpless.

Yet why does a God so great hear me?

Why do You answer me O Lord?

Even more so— delivering me from all my fears?...

I don't know. But I am thankful.

I might never know. But I am thankful.

I will be ever more afflicted and suffer. But I am thankful.


In all things, help me to seek You... just like Jesus, David, and Jeremiah. And most importantly O Lord mold me a humble heart.

To inquire off You, to ask, to be patient and await for Your answer...

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.



Updated on:

March 16, 2021 | October 7, 2021 | October 16, 2021


Credits:

1 John 4:4 🎨pesanpesan.co

Psalm 34:4 🎨pesanpesan.co


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